Charting the internet pop world one blog post at a time.

L.A.’s Axel Mansoor acquires another rare feat on this chart in his second appearance at #1 with the pensive “Wasted My Love” (above). He scores a simultaneous Top 5 entry with the soulful post-breakup song “Out Of My Head” (below), which also has designs on #1 but I’m afraid may have to wait its turn. The best thing about all of this is that both songs are available for free download – get ’em while they last!

Charlie Puth’s bass-laden “Attention” climbs to #2 and appears to be the successor to “Wasted My Love” at the top, but we will see in two weeks…

Not to be discounted, Philadelphia’s NiGHTS keep it going, rising 5-3 with the quirky and infectious indie release “P A R T Y”.

Bubbling under the Top 10 has paid off for “Never Been Better” by Dutch producer/DJ Steve Void, which climbs 11-8, becoming Steve’s second Top 10 solo entry following “Chemistry” (#10) earlier this year.

UK producer Murky arrives at #9 with the lovely “Heavy-Hearted”, featuring Polish singer Anuka, currently available as a free download.

There aren’t many ‘story songs’ on the dance music scene, but one that works very well is the tell-it-like-it-is “Silent Games” by Lars Beck & Henri Purnell featuring Hawaiian vocalist Zekt. It climbs 16-11 and is also a free download!

Besides Axel Mansoor, Martin Garrix is the other performer in the chart who has two entries. The fun instrumental club banger “Byte” (above), with fellow Dutchman Brooks, soars 19-12, while Martin’s pop collaboration with Troye Sivan on “There For You” (below) moves up 29-22.

The fastest riser on the chart should come to you as no surprise. Cosmos & Creature are BILLCS Top 30 chart veterans Molly Moore and Brandyn Burnette with their best collaboration yet “Bad Drug”, which vaults 26-17.

One jam you should definitely give a chance is Anton Ewald’s “L.I.L.Y.” (Like I Love You), which climbs 27-20. Check out the flashy ‘all Anton’ video directed by his fiancée.

Singer/songwriter/actor Reeve Carney continues on his club tour in North America to support his debut album Youth Is Wasted. From that album, the soulful and gritty “Truth” moves up 28-21.

Three Debuts

The highest debut on the chart at #23 looks to be a long-term favourite of mine for 2017, the joyous “Astronauts”. It’s a collaboration between three Danes and a Scot and it’s absolutely magnetic. It will be hard to remember the artists – Christian Boye & Christian Sigvardt & MAGNÜS featuring vocalist Uhre – so best to go pick it up at your favourite digital store now!

The second debut is the first appearance on this chart by Las Vegas’ Killers since 2009’s “A Dustland Fairytale”. Brandon Flowers are back in the form that we enjoyed them best with their new wave/disco splashed “The Man” at #27.

One half of the UK X Factor contestants Same Difference, which achieved some popularity domestically, is singer Sean Smith, who is now solo with the gorgeous “Magic”, which has international club potential thanks to a thoughtful remix by Andy Sikorski. “Magic” bows at #28.

View the full BILLCS Top 30right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.

Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs

If you think Philadelphia duo NiGHTS were strictly all about play, with their infectious song “P A R T Y” riding high at #5 on my personal chart, then for contrast purposes “W A V E” might just be for you. This is a softer, midtempo song for just after midnight, in what we used to call the “quiet storm” setting back in the day. It draws from 90’s R. Kelly, Aaliyah, Timbaland, and a lot of other songs by performers who laid some of the groundwork for R&B today. By the way, the ‘wave’ here ain’t the one in the water. Check it out at the link above.

The new chart is definitely shakin’ and stirred – many songs make big leaps while other favourites tumble. Yet there somehow is still room enough for four debuts.

I’m not sure if this has ever happened before on my chart in its 19 year history, but the both new #1… and the fastest rising song on the chart… belong to one performer, who happens to be L.A. indie singer/songwriter Axel Mansoor.

The Top 10

The sweet-voiced pop/R&B singer who tells it like it is climbs to #1 with a song that draws you in from first listen, “Wasted My Love” (up top). And not too far behind at #8 is his follow up, the lovely and resolute “Out Of My Head” (below), the fastest riser on the chart, soaring 21-8 in its second appearance. They are both free downloads for now so pick them up while you have access to them 🙂 Axel is a talent who won’t go unnoticed!

Also making a huge move 15-3 is a number one contender, “Attention” by Charlie Puth, becoming his highest placing song on the chart thus far. That R&B bassline seals the deal!

I still can’t get enough of Alesso’s “Falling”, which is up a notch 5-4.

The song that moves up 11-5 has a wonky kind of charm with its rhythm, matched up with a soulful vocal with a dash of grit, and a chorus that will get stuck in your head and stay there. It’s by Philadelphia duo NiGHTS with “P A R T Y”.

L.A. based producer/remixer Spirix is getting comfortable again in my Top 10, following last year’s #5 “Take Me Apart” and a #1 remix of Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad”. Paired with Floridians Xuitcasecity “Runaway” has a lot of charm and climbs 8-6.

L.A. pervades my Top 10 with Virginian transplant Eddy Faulkner obtaining his first Top Tenner here with “Cruel” moving 12-9. Though his voice is front and centre, I love the rich backdrop of production that surrounds it.

Movin’ On Up

It’s hard to stop listening to a song that’s been out for a while but has a killer vocal and rhythm track. That happens to be “Never Been Better” by young Dutchman Steve Void, which continues to rise, up 14-11.

One of the most downright intriguing songs of the year is “Silent Games” by German producers Lars Beck and Henri Purnell, with vocals from Honolulu native Zekt. Remixer UOAK recently gives it a lush deep house flavour while retaining the song’s mystery. Get it for free at the link below. “Silent Games” rises 20-16.

Martin Garrix and his Dutch bro Brooks move up 24-19 with their hard-to-ignore instrumental “Byte”. And joining it on the chart is “There For You”, with Martin’s other bro, one Troye Sivan, and it bows at #29.

The other two debuts from two weeks ago will be contenders in the coming weeks. I honesty never thought Shawn Mendes would appear on my chart but he’s here with the Bryan Adams-ish “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” up 27-21, while right behind it is the Saxena house remix of “Darlin'” by Welcome To The Hotel featuring singer Brandon Serafino, climbing 28-22.

The Remaining Three Debuts

Despite Brandyn Burnette and Molly Moore’s own many chart entries, their duo Cosmos & Creature lands on the chart with an original, the total winner “Bad Drug”, at #26. CnC first appeared on the chart as featured in Vicetone’s “Bright Side” about a year ago.

Sweden’s Anton Ewald returns with just his first name but also with a very hot R&B-influenced song (and a flashy, all-Anton video), “L.I.L.Y.” (aka “Like I Love You”) at #27. It’s his first appearance in about two years, and all of his songs that have appeared in this chart have reached the Top 10. “L.I.L.Y.” looks like it could follow that trend 🙂

He’s played Spider-Man on Broadway, and both Dorian Gray and Rocky Horror’s Riff Raff on TV, but before all of that he was a NYC local with his brother in their band Carney. Reeve Carney finally has his debut solo album out called Youth Is Wasted. I got to see his set and meet the man a few weeks back, and “Truth” is a highlight from the set and the album, arriving at #28.

View the full BILLCS Top 30right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.

Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs

I’m enjoying my fellow Torontonians Loud Luxury & Ryan Shepherd’s “Something To Say” far too much for it to depart #1 after one appearance, so it stays ahead of a few others for another chart.

Looking to ascend to the top next week is the gorgeous “Wasted My Love” (above) by L.A.’s Axel Mansoor, vaulting 9 to 2. Even better, Axel has one of four debuts with another beauty, “Out Of My Head” (below) arriving at #21. Axel has one of the best new voices of the year and his songwriting is on point!

Also arriving in the Top 5 is Alesso’s huge club hit “Falling”, moving up 6 to 5.

It’s turning out to be a massive hit, and Zedd and Alessia Cara’s “Stay” continues to climb, up 7-6.

“I Wonder” by The Him and vocalist LissA is a real earworm, climbing 8-7 – you’ll find yourself singing and humming and dancing to it for days 🙂

New to the Top 10 without much surprise is “Sign Of The Times” by Harry Styles, which continues to gain fans after all these weeks of release thus far, and rises 11-9.

Movin’ On Up

The infectious independent release “P A R T Y” by Philadelphia duo NiGHTS continues to soar, up 17-11, as a third single “B R E A T H” is released.

Charlie Puth follows up the Top 5 duet with Selena Gomez “We Don’t Talk Anymore” with his new bass-laden pop hit “Attention”, which is the fastest riser on the chart, rocketing 23-15.

UK producer Murky along with Polish singer Anuka climb 20-16 on this chart with a beautiful EDM ballad “Heavy Hearted”, which is available as a free download.

Bobby Nourmand’s latest “D U S T”, which is also a free download, continues to look promising as it climbs 24-19.

Our final debut from last week is the intriguing “Silent Games” by German producers Lars Beck and Henri Purnell, and featuring vocalist Zekt, who hails from Honolulu. It rises 26-20.

The Remaining Three Debuts

Martin Garrix returns to the chart for the first time since last year’s collaboration with Bebe Rexha “In The Name Of Love”, which got to #10. This time it’s with fellow Dutchman Brooks on the rollicking instrumental “Byte” (and a very flashy video) which arrives at #24.

Shawn Mendes grew up about 20 minutes from where I currently live in Pickering, Ontario. He has his first BILLCS Top 30 chart entry with “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” which bows at #27. And it’s a danceable affair this time; so far the NOTR remix has been released, but others are coming!

Welcome To The Hotel’s independent single “Darlin'”, featuring vocalist Brandon Serafino, gets a boost from a saxxy Saxena remix, which arrives at #28 and is available to download for free.

View the full BILLCS Top 30right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.

Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs

For the first time since March, following “Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay, which stayed up top for 4 appearances (8 weeks) as did Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad” last summer, there is a new #1 on the BILLCS Top 30, and a few more contenders bubbling below!

The Top 10

My fellow Torontonians, Loud Luxury and Ryan Shepherd ascend to the top with “Something To Say”, their brilliant deep house rework of Craig David’s “Fill Me In”. It’s the first time since another fellow Torontonian finished out 2016 at #1, that being The Weeknd with Daft Punk and “Starboy”.

Mahalo and Cat Lewis continue to rise in the Top 5 as the rollicking “WTFYWF” arrives at #3.

One of the most unique songs out there in every good sense of that word is Brandyn Burnette’s “Manifest”, and this song from his third EP Feature Films jumps 7-4.

Eyeing the Top 5 and the top of the chart is Alesso’s huge club hit “Falling”, which moves up 10-6.

The sweet soul of L.A.’s Axel Mansoor lands in the Top 10 with “Wasted My Love” climbing 12-9.

L.A.-based producer Spirix gets his second Top 10 hit here with “Runaway”, featuring pop/hip hop duo Xuitcasecity on vocals, to make an addictive blend of EDM, pop, soul and hip hop. It bounds into the Top 10 soaring 17-10.

Movin’ On Up

Harry Styles looks to be the bona fide pop star formerly of One Direction, as “Sign Of The Times” from his new self-titled album winds its way up to the outskirts of the Top 10, rising 15-11.

L.A.-based singer/songwriter Eddy Faulkner is halfway up the chart with his first entry “Cruel”, a slick blend of pop and dance styles with rich production, moving 18-15.

Check out Steve Void’s fun new video for “West L.A.” below, as I’m hardly done yet with his previous single “Never Been Better” (above), which climbs 21-16. The memorable, commanding uncredited vocal is by British singer Grace Tither.

The fastest riser on the chart has one of the quirkiest hooks around which will grow on you big time. With its blend of soulful pop and EDM, Philadelphia duo NiGHTS vault 29-17 with “Party”.

NYC’s Andy Suzuki & The Method have announced upcoming tour dates in (natch) NYC, but also Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Boston, which is always a great way to feel the energy they bring to their music. “I Need You Now (The More You Leave)” is from their second album The Glass Hour, and rises 24-19.

They co-produced “Break Up Every Night”, a song on The Chainsmokers’ album Memories… Do Not Open. The trio Captain Cuts joins The ‘Smokers on the chart with “Love Like We Used To” (Young Bombs remix), climbing 27-22.

Debuts

25 year old singer/songwriter/producer Charlie Puth is back with a song from his upcoming second album. “Attention” is as infectious as it gets, with a slightly dirty and soulful rhythm to counter Charlie’s knowing vocal. It bows at #23 and becomes Charlie’s 4th entry on the chart, the last being “We Don’t Talk Anymore” (with Selena Gomez), which peaked at #5.

L.A. producer/DJ Bobby Nourmand grabbed a #1 song here earlier in the year with the crazy “D E E P In NY” (featuring great verses rapped by D.O.C. and Goodmorning). He returns with the first bright light of summer for those of us in colder climates called “D U S T”. It’s a mini-epic for a long drive up a sandy beach on a clear night, and bows at #24 – and it’s Bobby’s gift to you as a free download 🙂

New to the chart are Germany’s Lars Beck and Henri Purnell with their deep house production “Silent Games” featuring Hawaiian vocalist Zekt at #26. This mix of EDM, soul and folk styles will catch you immediately and draw you in with Zekt’s classic way of unfolding a story. You can get “Silent Games” as a free download for a limited time.

View the full BILLCS Top 30right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.

Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs

Nights is a new male duo out of Philadelphia who’ve just released their debut single “Irreplaceable”. The style is a smooth mix of EDM, R&B and Hip Hop, more likely to appeal to fans of Chance The Rapper, Bryson Tiller or Anderson.Paak than say The Chainsmokers or Tiësto. What I like particularly about “Irreplaceable” is the positive message that’s wrapped up in a vibe that will catch your attention when you don’t expect it. The understated vocal is in a dreamy zone that totally suits the song. “Irreplaceable” is a great start for Nights – folks who also enjoy RKCB and Opia will be pleased. Get it for free at the link above.